Thursday, January 28, 2010

What a fun week of SEC basketball with the weekend games still to come! The mighty UK went down; South Carolina's little known STAR became a household name; Vanderbilt moved to 5-0 in SEC play, and Arkansas' Fortson set a career high mark with 35 (33 in the second half)!

This weekend has some very interesting matchups that are much harder to predict, but of course we are going to try. Highlight game will Saturday at 3pm Central (ESPN) when Vanderbilt travels to Kentucky! Winner will take over first place in the SEC East. I can't wait for this game. Predictions below:

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

As I stated in a previous post, Calipari's Wildcats finally gave the SEC what they needed, a VILLAIN. Tonight that villain went down at the hands (or should I say spurs) of the South Carolina Gamecocks.

You all saw the game. You know how S.Carolina won the game. You saw Devan Downey make his claim for SEC player of the week in the first game of the week. So I won't go into that. I want to ask one simple question? If the SEC didn't have a "Villain" this year, would that game matter to you at all? If UK wasn't the #1 team in the country and pretty much walking all over their SEC opponents, would you have even bothered to watch this nationally televised game? I think not! (SEC fans aside)

I have to say it again; because I think it's true...Without Calpari's move to Kentucky, the SEC would be having another "down" year. As an SEC fan it hurts to say it, but it's true.

Monday, January 25, 2010

What would the SEC look like without Calipari's move from Memphis to Kentucky? Let's face it, if Coach Cal doesn't leave Memphis, the story lines would point to either Tennessee or Vanderbilt.

Tennessee has made their own story line by literally "sticking up" folks and winning games shorthanded. Vandy on the other hand, has bolted out of the SEC gate to a 4-0 start against some pretty solid teams. They haven't had that so called "Signature" win yet, but that could come this week against the Vols. Although this is an in-state rivalry game, it could be the game that gets Vandy some national exposure and votes. Even Andy Katz from ESPN thinks they will give Kentucky trouble. [via Twitter @ESPNAndyKatz - Kentucky played like a champ Saturday but I still say someone on the road will nab 'Cats (at Vandy or at Tenn most likely)].

The rest of the SEC is somewhat average. You can make an argument for Florida, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State, but the bottom half of the top 25 is where the SEC has lived since world revolved around Gainesville a few years ago.

Bottomline, Calipari's move to Kentucky and bringing with him 3 of the most sought after recruits in the country, is the story of the SEC. Without that move we would be bored to death as SEC fans. The SEC hardwood currently is filled with a bunch of nice guys that don't make a not of noise (unlike the SEC gridiron) and just try to keep their jobs. A great story must have a villain and now the SEC has one, Calipari's Kentucky Wildcats!

There are some pretty good match ups set for this week in the SEC. With the exception of the Kentucky @ Carolina game, all other games could go either way. I’m looking for Arkansas to bounce back from their run in with the soon to be #1 ranked Wildcats and tie the Mississippi State series at 1-1.

Georgia will be riding high after taking out Tennessee, but Florida is playing well particularly at the 1 and 3 positions. Vanderbilt at Tennessee will be much closer than in the past few years, Vandy to squeak it out. Ole Miss @ Auburn will be a great test for both teams, but I think Ole Miss has a little more talent to pull off the win. Only time will tell, should be a fun week. Go SEC!!!

So the Wildcats are the tallest team in the country, they are currently undefeated, and above all they have the best player in the country in John Wall. But you still have to ask, is that enough? I'm not sure. If you watch Kentucky closely they play very similar to Calipari's Memphis Tiger teams. They are always extremely long, and run up and down like there was free money on the baselines. The thing that may eventually catch up with the Wildcats is their lack of a half-court game. In Memphis Tiger fashion your offense needs to be more than "get into the paint, throw it up and score on the stick back." If Calipari finds a way to score in the half-court set consistently, this team will win the National Title in history making fashion.

I like this Kentucky team to make the Final Four and John Wall to win Player of the Year. But it will be really really interesting to watch how they adjust when they get matched up against some of the other elite teams in the country, namely Syracuse! Syracuse is long, run a great half-court game, play defense, and as always are well coached! My 2 cents.